Is everyone getting sick for the holidays? Health officials urge public to get flu, COVID vaccines

If you or someone you know is battling a cold, the flu or COVID-19, you're not alone. It's that time of year when more people are feeling sick and health officials are stressing the importance of preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses.

They're urging Canadians to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines, saying it's not too late if they want to help protect their own health and that of friends and family over the holidays.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé says as bad as overcrowding can be in emergency wards, it could get worse in the coming weeks, due to suspected cases of flu and COVID-19.

Ryan Kirkpatrick, who lives in Whitby, Ont., with his wife and their five-year-old daughter, Louise, says it's been a tough few months due to one illness after another.

Currently, Louise has COVID for the second time since school started — and Kirkpatrick says they're willing to put off a holiday gathering if needed.

"She was sick in September, had an ear infection in October, and is now sick again in December," he said, noting the family has had "a little bit of everything" despite wearing masks, practising physical distancing and using air purifiers.

Sydney Freeston's family in Montreal West, which includes her husband, their five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, has also been hit hard.

"This fall has been a nightmare," she told CBC News.

In early November, Freeston and her son had "awful colds." In the middle of the month, her husband got COVID. Four days later, Freeston also had it, but neither child did.

Then, in late-November, her daughter got strep throat and Freeston came down with it a few days later. Earlier this month, her son had a fever and lethargy. A doctor told them it could be RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

"It seems like everyone you know is sick right now, and I think there isn't a lot of awareness of what you should do if that happens," said Dr. Kashif Pirzada, a Toronto emergency room physician.

"You do not want to need the hospitals during the holiday season. You'll be waiting a long time, and you can avoid all of this with just some preventative action now," he said, noting that includes not going to the big family dinner if you've got symptoms.

The number of cases of influenza and RSV is typically higher at this time of year, but it's generally within expected levels, according to the latest epidemiology update from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases in Canada were, on average, slightly lower than the previous two weeks.